A crisis of credibility

More than 84,500 complaints have been lodged against Punjab Police in just the first seven months of this year. That is nearly 400 grievances every single day - a number that would be staggering to anyone unfamiliar with the force's reputation for seamlessly blending violence, corruption and ineptitude.

The complaints read like a catalog of institutional failure. Nearly 39,000 people accused the police of flat-out refusing to register their cases - keeping the crime rate low is easy if you don't register cases. Another 19,300 alleged botched investigations, including failure to recover stolen property or arrest suspects. Almost 15,000 complaints centred on corruption and bribery - justice comes at a cost.

Making things worse is the fact that the police insist that their complaint redressal system is working. Police authorities boast that 94% of complaints have been "resolved". However, legal experts warn this is just theatre designed to mislead the public. The penalties rarely fit the crime, and most offending police officials get off with just a slap on the wrist.

A major contributing factor is the high level of political patronage that still exists in the police. Low-level hiring still involves local politicians and other influential people working the gears behind the scenes, while high-level postings are impossible without the express blessings of politically influential people. And while it is true that policemen around the globe often look the other way in cases involving politically connected people, in most countries, it is usually in lesser cases. In Pakistan, it seems there is no case the police will not actively suppress if given the opportunity.

The problems are so deep-seated now that any solution would take several years to implement successfully, as it would require changing not just the culture, but also those who carry it, while making independent oversight with meritorious responses the standard. Otherwise, the people of Punjab will continue to file complaints, and continue to be ignored.